Collapsible tent-frame.



J. E. WELKiNS.

COLLAPSIBLE TENT FRAME.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 1, 1916.

1 @WLSQQL Patented Nov. 7, 1915.

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WITNESSES:

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J. E. WILKINS.

COLLAPSIBLE TENT FRAME.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 1, 1916.

Patented Nov. 7, 1916,

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WITNESSES. QM

JOHN E. WILKINS, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.

CQLLAPSIBLE TENT-FRAME.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. i 191%.

Application filed may 1, W16. Serial No. 94,593.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, JOHN E. lV1LK1Ns,.acitizen of the United States, residing at Kansas City, in the county ofJackson and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Collapsible Tent-Frames, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to collapsible tent frames and one object is toprovide a new and useful device of this character of simple and lightconstruction, which can be folded into compact form for storage or forready transportation on an automobile or other vehicle.

A further object is to provide a tent frame which can be readily set upfor use and when set up will be rigid .and substantial, and reliablysupport a canvas tent placed in position thereon, so that said tentcannot be easily blown down by the wind.

Other objects of the invention will hereinafter appear, and in orderthat said invention may be fully understood, reference will now be madeto the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the tent frame set up ready for use.Fig. 2 is a detail perspective of a corner fitting employed in carryingout the invention. Fig 3 is a broken detail perspective of one of thecorner plates associated with adjacent parts. Fig. t is a section of asleeve and a hinge joint. which latter is adapted to be locked in arigid position by the former. Fig. 5 is a broken detail perspective of aridge pole fitting and associate parts. Fig. 6 isa side elevation of theparts disclosed by Fig. 4, with the hinge unlocked. Fig. 7 is a brokenelevation of one end of the ridge pole and associate parts. Fig. 8 is across section, enlarged, on line VHF-VH1 of Fig. 1. Fig. 9 is a crosssection, enlarged, on line l[X-IX of Fig. 1. Fig. 10 is a plan view ofthe hinge. Fig. 11 is a modified form of the sleeve disclosed by Fig. 6..Fig. 12 is a modified form of the parts disclosed by Fig. 4.

Incarrying out the invention, I employ four legs 1 whereby'the upperportion of the frame is supported a' suitable height above the ground.Said legs are pivotally-connected at their upper ends to corner fittings2, each comprising two pairs of flanges 3 and 4, extending at rightangles to each other, and a tubular member 5, all of which are,

preferably, formed from one piece of sheet metal as disclosed by Fig. 2.As disclosed by Fig. 3, the upper end of a leg fits between the flanges3 to which it is connected by a transverse pivot 6, to allow the leg tobe folded when the frame is not in use.

7 designates a pair of longitudinal side members fixed at their ends inthe tubular members 5 of the corner fittings 2. Each member 7 isprovided intermediate its ends with a hinge 8, consisting of a link 9connected by pivots 10 to a pair of oppositelydisposed members 11,provided at one end with cylindrical terminals 12 which are drivenfriction tight into the adjacent ends of the two sections constitutingeach longitudinal side member 7. The hinges 8 are reliably locked inextended position when the tent frame is setup for use by sleeves 13,each of which is slidable upon a member 7 and provided at one endwith anL-shaped slot 14:, adapted to receive a pin 15 on the member 7 adjacentthe hinge 8, and hold the sleeve in position over the hinge S, asdisclosed by Fig. 4-.

16 designates a pair of transverse end members secured at their ends bypivots 17 between the flanges 4 of the corner fittings '2. Said endmembers 16 are provided intermediate their ends with hinges 8 adapted tobe held in rigid position by sleeves 13 slidable on the end members 16.

18 designates a plurality of braces pivotally-connected at their lowerends to clips 19 and removably connected at their upper slotted ends 20to pins 21 extending transversely through the lower portions of clips22. As disclosed by Fig. 1 each leg is provided with a clip 19, whileeach member 7 and 16 is provided with a pair of clips 22. Each clip 22is rigidly held in place by an indentation 23-therein which fits into acorresponding opening 24 on each of the members 7 and 16.

25 designates a ridge fitting comprising two pairs ofoppositely-inclined flanges 26 and a tubular horizontal portion 27 fromwhich a pair of flanges 28 depend. As disclosed by Fig. 5, the ridgefitting 25 is formed from one. piece of sheet metal. In the constructionof the tent frame two ridge fittings 25 are employed, the tubularportions 27 of which rigidly engage the respective ends of a ridge pole29, provided intermediate its ends with a hinge 8 and a sleeve 13.

The oppositely-inclined flanges 26 of each ridge fitting 25 areconnected by pivots 30 to a pair of gable members 31, inclining inopposite directions to members 32 to which they are connected by pivots33. The members 32 in turn are rigidly connected to the corner fittings2 by the pivot 6, upon which they are prevented from turning by flanges34, each of which is turned outward at right angles from one of theflanges 3 to abut the adjacent margin of the member 32 asdisclosed byFig. 3. The gable members 31 are provided intermediate their ends withhinges 8 and sleeves 13. In addition to the ridge fittings 25 beingsupported by the inclined gable members 31 they are further supported byshort upright members 35, each being removably-connected at its upperslotted end 35 t0 the flanges 28 of a fitting 25 by a pin 36, andconnected at its lower end to a clip.37 by a pivot 38. As disclosed byFig. 1, the clip 37 is mounted upon a sleeve 13.

The ridge pole 29, like the longitudinal side members 7, is reinforcedintermediate it's ends by braces 18 connected at their lower ends bypivots 21 to clips19, on the members 35, and removably connected attheir upper slotted ends 20 to pins 21 on clips 22, rigidly connected tosaid ridge pole 29.

When the frame is set up as disclosed by Fig. 1, a canvas or other tentmay be placed thereover and be reliably supported thereby. Guy ropesrunning from the corners of the tent to pegs driven in the ground mayalso be employed to brace the structure in windy weather.

After the tent has been removed from the frame the latter can be readilyfolded into compact form by disconnecting the slotted ends of the braces18 from the pins 21, and the slotted upper ends of the members '35 fromthe pins 36, slipping the sleeves 13 from over the hinges 8, and foldingthe several parts at their respective hinges and pivotal points. I

The modified form of sleeve 13 disclosed by Fig. 11, is similar to thesleeve 13, except that its slot 14 is curved atits inner end instead ofbeing angular.

The modified form disclosed by Fig. 12, has a straight slot 14 toreceive a spring detent 15, arranged within the member upon which thesleeve is slidably mounted.

From the foregoing description, it will be understood that I haveproduced a tent frame embodying the features of advantage aboveenumerated, and while I have shown and described the preferred form offrame I reserve the right to make such changes in the construction,proportion, and arrangement of parts as properly fall within the spiritand scope of the claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent, is: 1

1. In a tent frame, a rectangular frame having corner fittings each ofwhich latter has a pair of downwardly extending flanges, one oftheflanges of each pair of flanges having a vertical abutment, legs havingtheir upper ends extending between said .flanges, a ridge pole havinggable, parts,

members secured to the gable parts and engaged with the verticalabutments so as to be held by the latter against turning, and pinspassed through the flanges and members.

2. In a tent frame, a rectangular frame having cornerfittings eachformed of a single blank having a socket and two pairs of flanges, oneof the flanges of each fitting being bent at right angles at its freeedge to form a vertical abutment, a ridge pole having gable parts,members secured to the gable parts and engaged wlth the abutments, legshaving their upper ends extendlng between one of the pairs of flanges ofI the respective fittings, and pins passed through the members of thegable parts and through the legs and the flanges of the fittings whichreceive the legs.

3. In a tent frame, a corner fitting formed I of a single sheet metalblank one end of which is folded inwardly and bent at right anglesacross the line of fold to provide two pairs of flanges and one side 0which is rolled over to form a tubular member.

4. In a tent frame,a ridge fitting formed of a single sheet metal blankfolded to form a pair of oppositely inclined flanges, a tubularhorizontal portion extending outwardly from the point of juncture ofsaid flanges, and a pair of flanges depending from the horizontaltubular portion.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature, in the presence of twowitnesses.

JOHN E. WILKINS. Witnesses:

F. G. Fisomm, L. J. FISCHER.

